Nnadozie’s Ascent: Goalkeeper Greatness
The highest-ranked Nigerian is Chiamaka Nnadozie, who returns to the top 100 at 65th place after narrowly missing the cut last year. Her inclusion is a testament to her commanding presence between the sticks. Last season, the shot-stopper established herself as one of the elite in the women's game, keeping 11 clean sheets for Paris FC before securing a high-profile move to the Women’s Super League with Brighton & Hove Albion.
Nnadozie was indispensable during Nigeria's successful Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) campaign, playing a pivotal role in securing her second continental title and earning the Best Goalkeeper award for the tournament. Her remarkable year also saw her make history as the first African women's goalkeeper to be shortlisted for the Yashin Trophy, where she finished fourth. Furthermore, she was crowned the best goalkeeper at the 2025 CAF Awards.
Reflecting on the honor, Nnadozie told The Guardian: “It shows that all the hard work, dedication and everything I’ve been doing in the past, has been worth it. The world has been watching. It will make a very big impact in Africa because we have so many good players and they just need the opportunity to show what they can really do.”
Ajibade's Breakout Season
Forward Rasheedat Ajibade makes a strong debut appearance in the ranking at 79th position, rising significantly after placing 104th in the previous year. Ajibade, who recently moved to French champions PSG, had an impressive spell with Atlético Madrid in Spain last season, hitting double figures in goals.
Her most impactful contributions, however, were on the international stage. Ajibade brilliantly captained the Super Falcons to the WAFCON title, scoring a crucial goal in the semi-final and ultimately being named the tournament’s Best Player. Her leadership and clutch performances cemented her status as a global talent.
Newcomers Shine Bright
Two other forwards, Gift Monday and Esther Okoronkwo, also earned their first-ever places on the list, signifying a bright future for Nigerian football.
- Gift Monday of Washington Spirit secured 97th place following a debut NWSL season where she netted eight goals, including a vital strike in the Championship semi-finals.
- Esther Okoronkwo of AFC Toronto was ranked 98th, making her the first player from Canada’s Northern Super League to be included in the prestigious list. Okoronkwo's influential season saw her contribute eight goals and seven assists in the regular season, while her WAFCON campaign was marked by two goals, six assists, and a Player of the Match performance in Nigeria’s thrilling 3-2 final victory over Morocco.
Maintaining a Legacy
Nigeria’s strong presence continues a proud tradition, ensuring at least one Nigerian player has featured in every edition of the rankings since 2017. This year's four entries are a clear indicator of the nation's depth of talent, despite the notable absence of eight-time consecutive inclusion, Asisat Oshoala.
The rankings, initially launched by The Offside Rule podcast in 2016 and now published by The Guardian since 2018, are compiled by a large, diverse, and global panel of experts. Judges, including players, coaches, journalists, and broadcasters, evaluate a longlist of 450 players before ranking their personal top 40. The final positions are then determined by an allocated point system.
Beyond the Nigerian stars, the list also features other standout African talents, including Morocco’s newly crowned African Footballer of the Year Ghizlane Chebbak (74th), and Zambian striker Barbra Banda (14th), who remains the highest-ranked African player, with the top ten set to be revealed soon.